To risk is to be free
RISK To laugh, is to risk appearing the fool. To weep, is to risk appearing sentimental. To give without regard for reward, is to risk misunderstanding. To reach out to others, is to… Continue reading
In 1948, two French scientists noticed something unexpected in their lab samples: fragments of DNA drifting in blood plasma. At the time, the discovery seemed trivial, even puzzling. DNA, after all, was supposed… Continue reading
You’ve likely heard people talk about “chemo brain”—or maybe you’ve even felt it yourself. It’s that foggy sensation that can make it tough to find the right word, recall a friend’s name, or… Continue reading
So few grains of happiness measured against all the dark and still the scales balance. – Jane Hirshfield “The Weighing” I’ve been reflecting on these lines from Jane Hirshfield’s poem The Weighing and how its… Continue reading
In many cultures, greetings are often seen as polite and routine exchanges. However, in some Muslim cultures, there exists a profound dimension to these everyday interactions. When someone asks, “How are you?” in… Continue reading
I discovered that today, September 16th is ‘Tattoo Story Day’. While I am not sure if this is a day that’s universally marked, it gives me the prompt I need to tell the… Continue reading
Checking my August Awareness Day Calendar, I discovered that today, August 30th is designated as Grief Awareness Day. Sometimes I feel we are awash with grief in our community. Not just in our… Continue reading
Are you looking for a new job after cancer treatment? Perhaps you left your last employment after your diagnosis, or maybe you are still in your current job but want a fresh start… Continue reading
“In a society which is much more inclined to help you hide your pain rather than to grow through it, is necessary to make a very conscious effort to mourn.” – Henri Nouwen Grief… Continue reading
T for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just […]
The Thing Is to love life, to love it evenwhen you have no stomach for itand everything you’ve held dearcrumbles like burnt paper in your hands,your throat filled with the silt of it.When… Continue reading
The Butterfly Effect For Marie Ennis O’Connor So close and still Quietly far away From the company Who chose you The day you heard The word we all Heard. Echoes In a canyon… Continue reading
26 posts. 26 days. 26 letters of the alphabet, one blog post beginning with each letter. H is for Hair I started this blog a few years after my breast cancer diagnosis and… Continue reading
RISK To laugh, is to risk appearing the fool. To weep, is to risk appearing sentimental. To give without regard for reward, is to risk misunderstanding. To reach out to others, is to… Continue reading
“The only thing worse than not having sight is not having vision” ~ Helen Keller Do you remember in Alice in Wonderland, Alice asked the cat, “Would you tell me, please, which… Continue reading
I have a delicious aubergine/eggplant couscous salad to share with you today. It is so simple to prepare but looks very impressive and tastes wonderful. You can substitute the aubergine for another grilled… Continue reading
Today is Independence Day,the national holiday of the United States. More commonly known as the Fourth of July, it commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the… Continue reading
If your cancer is oestrogen sensitive (ER+), you will most likely be advised to undergo some form of hormonal treatment after your chemotherapy and radiotherapy has finished. This is usually in the form of… Continue reading
I am so pleased to see that a registry for breast cancer survivors in the United States will allow survivors to join together in a nationwide effort to improve survivorship. I would love… Continue reading
When I was in Florida last month, I picked up a packet of orzo (pasta shaped like grains of rice) at the supermarket. I am sure you can get it here in Ireland… Continue reading
What to remember when waking In that first hardly noticed moment to which you wake, coming back to this life from the other more secret, moveable and frighteningly honest world where everything began,… Continue reading
I was overwhelmed (in a good way) with the response I got to last week’s Empowering the Patient post. If you are interested in this (and I really think we all should take an interest… Continue reading